Strand tightener



Aug. 9, 1927.

N. D. coNNoRs STRAND' TI GH'T'ENER Filed Oct. 26, 1922 l INVENTOR.' /Vbww/U BY A TT ORNEY Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

UNITED STATES A .1,638,432 PATENT oFFlcE.

NEILSON D. (ZONNORS,l OF HIGHLAND PARK, NEW JERSEY, .ASSIGNOR TOAMERICAN I TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STRAND TIGHTENER.

l Application med October 26, 1922. Serial No. 597,185.

This invention relates to tools for use in removing slack in guys or intightening the so-called dead ends in suspension strand. The object ofthe invention is 'to provide a simple means of tightening lengths ofstrand or rope, such as those referredto A above, thus doing. away withlthe necessity of employing sets of blocks for this purpose.

Applicants tool operates on the principleof removing slack by thrustingor pulling out of line a short section of the length of strand, etc., tobe tightened. Such a length is passed through the eye of an anchor-rod,for example, and the free end is attached to the guy a few feet from therod by means of clamps. VThe tool is then applied to this sectionbetween the rod and the clamps and the desired tension is obtained bythe operation of the tool, as hereinafter fully explained. Permanentattachment of the strand or rope is then made with clamps such asthree-bolt clamps at a point between the tool and the rod. The strandhaving been thus secured at the desired tension, the

tool is removed, and the length of strand beynd the permanently placedclamps is cut o In general, applicants device has a curved env-shapedframework carrying a threaded-- rod, the rod being actuated in anysuitable manner, as for instance, by a wrench. A grooved head or a hook,travelling with the rod, but so attached as not to turn with the rod, orinternally threaded and travelling on the rod, pushes or pulls out oflinea section of strand lying between the legs of the framework, incontact with which members the strand is made to pass by means of hooksor rollers properly placed. Several diierent designs of tightener willbe specifically described below. All designs operate on the principleoutlined above, the distinctions belng found in the structure of theframework, in the means employed for causing the strand or `rope to passin contact with the leg members, in the relative arrangement of the rodand the hook, or in the specific manner in which 'the strand isdisplaced from line. It is understood that the invention ma be embodiedin many otherV forms which o not depart from the principle or from thegeneral formA of device broadly claimed below. y

In the accompanying drawing, Figures 1,

u 2 and 3 show different desirab e embodiments of applicants invention.In the device shown in side elevation in Fig. 1, a section of strand isthrust or pushed out of line. In the tools of Figs. 2 and 3, shown inperspective, the section of strand is pulled out of line.

With reference to the details of Fig. 1, the ltramework comprises thetwo curved legs 1 and 2 and a middle portion 3. Through this middleportion passes the threaded rod '4, which is actuated by a hand 'wrench5. At its lower extremity the threaded rod 4 carries a pivoted head 6,grooved at 7 on its lower surface to receive the strand or rope. Thestrand or rope passes over upwardly pointed hooks 8 and 9 placed nearthe extremities of the legs 1 and 2, respectively. A section of strandthus held in place between the hooks 8 and 9 will be thrust downwardlyout of line upon the actuation of the threaded rod 4, the strand slidingover the hooks as-it is displaced by the rod head 6.

Fig. 2 shows-a second -tool operating on the same principle Aasl the,Iirst but distinguishedfrom the first in several particulars. Theframework comprises two side 'members 10 and 11, each an inverted V inshape, held-in separated relation by bolts. A threaded rod 12 passesdownwardy bem tween the two side members and is actuated by a'handwrench 13. The rod 12 carries pivoted at its lower extremity a hook 14,`over vwhich the strand passes. Fitted between the extremities of theside members 10 and 11 are two rollers 15 and 16. These rollers areplaced-on the given 'length of strand, which lies belowthem. When therod 12 is raised by the turning of the wrench 13, the hook 14 pulls thestrand upward, the sections on either side of the tool being drawn underthe rollers.` The tool shown in Fig-` 3, like that of' Fig. 2, has aframework composed of two side members, 17 and 18, each of the generalshape of an inverted .V; but the lower portions of these side membersare joined by s two cross-bars, the nearer one bein shown.A as 19 in thedrawing. The thread rod 2 0 extends downward to a point below the`cross-bars and has no vertical 'movement upon the operation of thedevice. The up wardly pointed hook 21 is carried on a rec= tangularblock 22,' which is internally threaded and travels upward or downward lupon the threaded rod 2O when the latter is actuated. A vertical member23 joins the top portion of the side member 18 with the correspondingcross-bar and extends downward as far as the lower extremity of thethreaded rod 20. The lower end of this member 23 is bent at right angleswith the body of the member, and forms the lower support for thethreaded rod 20. x The rod 20 passes through this end ofthe member 23and is held in place b riveting or by any other suitable means oattachment. This member 23, in addition to supporting the lower end ofthe threaded rod 20, adds strength to the framework and serves as aguide for thev hook 21 by reventing an-y considerable turning of theblock 22 which carries the hook. The point of the hook, as

shown in the drawing, is away from the vertical member 23. For pur osesof clear illustration, the degree to w ich the hook extends outward fromthe block is exaggerated. It is understood that the block and hook willpass freely between the crossbar 19 and the corresponding oppositecross# bar. It is obvious that the tool shown in Fi 3, with itsarrangement of rod and hodgk and its reinforced frame, has far greaterdisplacing power than the tools shown in the other two figures of thedrawing.

It is to be understood that any suitable actuating device may be used inconnection with the threaded rod of applicants tightener in any of itsform's. As indicated above, the figures of the drawing show certaindesirable embodiments of. applicants invention but do not limit it tothe forms therein described, serving merely as specific illustrations ofthe invention, which is claimed below.

What is claimed is:

1. A tool of the class described, comprising a framework consisting oftwo side members, fixed in separated relation, each of said side membersbeing of the shape of an tion of said framework between the two sidemembers and extending between the'two cross-bars to a point below saidcross-bars;

and an internally threaded block designedV to travel vertically on thethreaded rod and carrying an upwardly pointed hook, said hook beingdesigned to grip and pull upward and out of line a given length ofstrand upon actuation of saidrod.

2. A tool of the class described, comprising a framework consisting oftwo side members, fixed in separated relatien, each of said side membersbeing of the shape of an inverted V with the bottom closed by across-bar; a roller at each of the lower corners of said framework,between the two side members, designed to bear downward against a givenlength of strand; athreaded rod passing through the upper portion ofsaid framework between the two side members and extending downward to apoint below the cross-bars; a rectangular and internally threaded blocktravelling vertically upon the threaded rod upon actuation of saidthreaded rod and carrying an upwardly pointed hook designed to grip andpull upward and out of line said length of strand; and a vertical barjoining the upward portion of that side member away from the point ofthe hook with the middle section of the corresponding cross-bar, saidvertical bar being extended below said cross-bar as far as the lowerextremity of the threaded rod and being bent at right angles to form asupport for the lower end of the threaded rod, said vertical bar servingin 4addition as a guide to prevent turning of said hook.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification thistwentieth day l0 of October, 1922, l NEILSON D. CONNORS.

